Can my spouse and children join me while I am on an H-1B visa?

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may seek admission in H-4 dependent status. Their H-4 status is tied to and generally limited to the duration of your H-1B status.

Time your family spends in H-4 status does not count toward the six-year H-1B maximum. That means a person who spent years in H-4 status can still later obtain their own full six years of H-1B time.

H-4 dependents can study in the United States, but they cannot work unless they separately qualify for and obtain employment authorization.